A new study comparing lifelong obesity with the weight fluctuations of "yo-yo dieting" suggests it is better to attempt to lose weight despite repeated failures at keeping the weight off than to not diet and remain obese. The results will be presented Monday at The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting in Boston.

"It is clear that remaining on a stable, healthy diet provides the best outcome for health and longevity," said the study's principal investigator, Edward List, PhD, a scientist at Ohio University, Athens. "However, obese individuals commonly weight cycle they have repeated intentional weight loss followed by weight regain, often called yo-yo dieting. While yo-yo dieting is thought to be harmful, there is little hard scientific evidence to support that."